Investing.com - European stocks opened mixed in choppy trade on Wednesday, as crude oil prices regained some ground, alleviating pressure on energy stocks, while hopes for additional easing measures by the European Central Bank continued to lend support.
During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 dipped 0.07%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.23%, while Germany’s DAX 30 slipped 0.15%.
Crude oil futures for January delivery were up 1.61% at $38.12 in European morning hours on Wednesday, off the previous session's seven-year low.
Shares in French oil and gas major Total SA (PA:TOTF) jumped 1.11% and Russian rival Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) rallied 1.08%, while Italy's ENI (MI:ENI) saw shares advanced 1.08%.
European equities remained supported after ECB President Mario Draghi said Friday the central bank would step up stimulus measures if necessary to bring inflation back to target.
Financial stocks were also broadly higher, as French lenders BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) and Societe Generale (PA:SOGN) gained 0.79% and 1.11%, while Germany's Commerzbank (DE:CBKG) and Deutsche Bank (DE:DBKGn) climbed 0.67% and 0.77%.
Among peripheral lenders, Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo (MI:ISP) and Unicredit (MI:CRDI) advanced 0.45% and 1.45% respectively, while Spanish banks BBVA (MC:BBVA) and Banco Santander (MC:SAN) rose 0.24% and 0.72%.
Elsewhere, Nestle SA (VX:NESN) shares dipped 0.07% following news of JAB Holding Co.'s $14 billion takeover of Keurig Green Mountain Inc (O:GMCR). The deal is set to cost Nestle its global single-serve coffee crown.
In London, commodity heavy FTSE 100 rose 0.21%, supported by gains in the mining sector.
Shares in Glencore (L:GLEN) climbed 0.69% and Anglo American (L:AAL) jumped 2.36%, while Rio Tinto (L:RIO) and Bhp Billiton (L:BLT) surged 2.21% and 3.57% respectively.
Financial stocks added to gains, as the Royal Bank of Scotland (L:RBS) rose 0.24% and Lloyds Banking (L:LLOY) gained 0.34%, while Barclays (L:BARC) climbed 0.43% and HSBC Holdings (L:HSBA) advanced 0.69%.
Also on the upside, Ashtead Group (L:AHT) saw shares soar 8.54% after the equipment rental company posted first half revenue growth of 18%.
In the U.S., equity markets pointed to a higher open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a 0.26% increase, S&P 500 futures signaled a 0.17% gain, while the Nasdaq 100 futures indicated a 0.11% rise.